Dr.Trelawny, Dr. Screwit, and the Politics of a Unicorn T-Shirt

Today's doctor adventures were at least a little DIFFERENT. I am still in pain... they still don't REALLY know why... but at least it wasn't the same doctors or ALL the same tests.

Did you know there is something I hate more than shots and needles? My horrible veins. I am really REALLY hard to get blood from. I warn every nurse and phlebotomist that I'm a "hard stick." When they ask me which arm I like I tell them I have no preference, but instead tell them what locations have worked most recently... my hand, my wrist, etc. There are different reactions... some are nice and try to be as helpful as possible, using very small needles, getting people in the office who are really good at it to come in, etc. Others poke in wherever, then fish under the skin, which is awful. Some get very angry and prideful, like I have insulted their skill by suggesting they might not get it... and THEN are even madder when they CAN'T like I am purposely hiding my blood from them.

Anyway, I woke up and went straight to one hospital lab for my white blood count. As usual it was difficult, but the nurse was a nice one... and GOOD. She didn't poke 'til she found it (no fishing!) got it on only one try! Yay! Then I went to meet with my new primary care doctor. That's right. No more Dr. Hasacrazywife. Not that he is the one I most want to be rid of (anyone know an endocrinologist in Utah county, preferably that takes Altius, BESIDES Dr. NYB?) but I needed a doctor and I didn't want to keep going to UrgentCare. But Dr. Hasacrazywife is now only working, like, 3 hours a day. I think he has a brain tumor? I think... he's DYING. I feel terrible since he's one of my only doctors who is NOT an idiot, but we were going to have to change at the end of this month to an Altius doc anyway... and I couldn't get an appointment about this stupid Appendicitis-ish mystery, so now I have a new general practitioner.

She is out in American Fork and reminds me a little of Professor Trelawny. Like all the others, she was similarly perplexed by my test results. At the end of her own examination she diagnosed it as POSSIBLY an early, very slow moving, appendicitis. She recommended exploratory surgery, ordered a bunch of tests (including, yes, a stool because...

hee hee hee!

Anyway, she also really wanted us to have the gastroenterologist check over her tests, see if he thought the same, add more, take any away, and basically see what HE thought about me just getting surgery regardless. Since I had HIS appointment right after his, the 2nd opinion seemed natural.

I had never met this doctor yet either and, truth be told, I was a little taken aback by the fact that we was pretty dang CUTE. Gastroenterology should NOT be a CUTE field of work. It's a little... disturbing. AND he was VERY nice. And liked my shirt a lot... but kept trying to find meaning in it.

"I LOVE your shirt. What does it MEAN?"
"Ummm... like, it's a unicorn... like Uni... Corn."
"I know, but what does it mean politically?"
"Nothing?"
"Really?"
"As far as I know."
"But... corn? Maybe like renewable energy? Biodegradable plastics? fuel?"
"Maybe it COULD... if you wanted, but I don't think it meant to."
"Oh... Still. I love it. Yellow is my color, though. I am very much a yellow guy."

Yeah. He is an ODD doctor. (and, yes, Threadless rocks my world.)


He also went on for FOREVER at one point in the exam with this story about if you were in the woods and there were bears after you and you would pee your pants... and I swear he mentioned peeing your pants, like, 3 times... and kept going on with a LOT of details about this bear attack. The message was stress can make the ulcer worse (umm... Duh?) but he was really INTO his story. Mom and I both admitted in the car we would have told him to shut up and GET to the POINT if we didn't both think he was cute. THAT was kinda funny.

When he wanted to change my meds and I mentioned that I WOULD change meds, but that it was quite expensive and the insurance had already denied it, he said "Oh, Screw it! I'll give you all the samples you need!" Yes, I LIKE this doctor. He also concurred with Dr. Trelawny's tests and so we were sent to the hospital to get those started... and he recommended checking into the ER in the pain got worse because he thought I would be needing a surgeon but, like the others keep saying, "your presentation is... 'abnormal.' I just don't know!"

The next tests were BAD. They were with the type of nurses who are angry that they can't get my blood. Angry and FISHING. She hurt a lot and achieved next to nothing, dumb CBCs again... seeing if my white cells are going up, oh shocker, THEY ARE and they still don't know what is going on, bet you ANYTHING.

I went home and cried and cried. I hit a really bad low. I wanted to die... but I didn't. Instead I gave Bratanik a bath, half listened to a movie, and fell asleep, bawling.

You should not take naps that late, I know. It was long... and when I woke up, The Roomie was asleep and the gliders were awake. It was about 10 pm. Today was Heber's birthday. Well, observed. It is the day I brought him home and we guessed he was about 5 then, so he is about 8 now. My little man. I love him so much. I planned to do something extra fun for him for dinner... like persimmons as they are his favorite, but instead he just got peas because I felt... drained. He likes peas too. And HE doesn't know it's his birthday anyway (but either do human babies, right?). I cuddled him and gave him yogurt treats, though. So I woke up in time to pay some attention to the babies, especially my boy, and then take pain meds and fall back into a bit of a stupor.... watch a Heroes... and cry some more...

but a little less.
Because at least I have gliders who need me.

Sleepy Sabbath and a Nice Day for a [Red?] Wedding

Today was icky. Yesterday was good.

I woke up feeling bad. Hurting. EVERYWHERE, but my foot was screaming (walked a lot yesterday... under a bunch of medication.) and my head was, too. I kept debating whether to go to church, but decided I need to at least TRY. I want to be worthy of the blessings I so desperately need. So I got ready and went. I made it through about 45 minutes before I had to go home and lay down.

I went home and thought I would take an hour nap and then eat something and take meds. This was at about 2. I woke up at 10:30. GREAT.

8 and a half hour nap. I am sure I will sleep SO well tonight.

BUT YESTERDAY was fun. It was Prism's wedding! She and Sluggo got married in the Salt Lake temple and it was GREAT and very THEM! I loved that.

CC met me at the Trax by Meg's house because she is AWESOME and saved me from driving the whole way on meds. There was a wedding breakfast at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. We got there early so we went to the top and looked at the temple from the window. I still hate those elevators, though.But anyway, the breakfast was pretty fun even though I was hurting.

Yay for times with the girls!


The ceremony itself was, of course, beautiful. (It was in the Temple after all) But I LOVED how Prism and Sluggo seriously did NOT stop holding hands for even a SECOND the whole ceremony. VERY cute.
How cute are they?

MaGurls!


Congratulations to Prism, our Defective Knuck!

"Why can't Mormons send flowers?"

Today is the start of General Conference for the Church. And I woke up in time (ooh, long scary story though. Later.) I am not even in bed listening to it on the radio but upstairs, dressed, and watching it on TV and paying attention.

Okay, well, right NOW it is between sessions, so I am cooking crescent rolls (mmmm...) and half-watching and giggling at Benji (the Hunted!) and his sophisticated thought processes (compared to the idiocy of the majority of the few humans in the show) with The Roomie.

Crap.

I burned them.

Anyway, so this morning I was supposed to go to work... EARLY... to do this last big JMG harvest.

When I was dragging myself out of bed I texted my sister-boss a few times asking "are we still doing this thing?" because 1. it was cold 2. I was exhausted 3. I was hurting a lot
...but got no answer so assumed it was. I put on my jacket for the first time this year and drove out to Thanksgiving Point. But when I arrived, NOBODY was there.

And it was snowing... raining... sleeting... hailing... and I kept trying to call Rinny with no answer. I was going to leave, assuming it had been changed or *I* was wrong, but was waiting just a few minutes to see if she'd call back. To kill time I spun donuts (mmm... donuts...) in the parking lot behind the dinosaur museum. The lot was crazy slick with the hail on the sleet like little marbles in slime.

I thought I heard some construction equipment crunching something... but other than that, nobody I knew came by and I decided to leave.

But when I got to the other side of the museum I saw it was not construction.

There was a car laying there, upside-down in front of it. Having slipped off the slime and marble freeway and flipping onto the the little frontage road at work. The lights were still on. There were no police or ambulance. I felt so sick. A man pulled up behind them before I got across the street, then I was behind him. I asked if anyone had been called. He said yes, the guy (IN THE CAR) had run in to the museum to call an AMBULANCE (meaning there was someone else in there? I don't know.). I asked what I could do, what I should do. He said nothing, and that he would handle it. I pulled over to the side to be out of the way, but was having a major panic attack. THAT was when Rinny called back. She thought *I* had been in the accident and kept trying to say she'd come get me. I explained, but not well... I kept almost throwing up. I was very freaked out and not handling things well. But I stayed till the police and ambulance got there... and could calm down some myself... then drove VERY carefully home, grateful for 4-wheel drive.

But once home I watched Conference which was good. Elder Eyring is the new 2nd Counselor and Elder Cook(?) is the new 12.

Seeing Elder Wirthlin, I think it was? that was so shaky and so so so... old... made me want to cry though.

But still, yeah, good start to the Conference. Granted, I would have to re-watch... or read excerpts (which I will)... to tell you what the heck I learned from it (partially because my unfocused brain... partially because the dogs and birds were being hilariously distracting and kept making The Roomie and I laugh), but over all it was good.

Last night was good, too, for a change. Work was NOT so good. The field trip kids were funny, of course, but I was hurting the whole time and I am still feeling rather unhinged and unstable and... well, started crying when Grandma Betty said I miscounted cups for ice cream for one class. Yeah, THAT'S healthy. *rolls eyes* That's what this whole week has like. But LAST night was good.

I got to just chill with the girls, CC and Stewbert. We talked about dumb things, cruised the mall a little, spent a lot of money at Archiver's (I spent a ton. But I have a plan for a little, CUTE, scrapbook of the suggies. hee hee!), and finished up with Sonic.

I admit my foot, though it was wrapped (and heavily medicated) the whole night hated me today, but still glad I got to play.

Pain and Doctors from Head to Toe... Literally

Doctors yesterday.
Doctors today.

SIGH. Seriously, can I just trade in my body for a newer model? Because this one SUCKS!

Yesterday was the Head thing.
I got through it and I am glad I did. It was the right thing. But I am glad my dad came over before the procedure and gave me a father's blessing with the priesthood. And I am glad I trust Dr. YeahBaby's SKILL. Because his bedside... a LIIIIITTLE scary. Like when I was laying on the table, face down, covered in sheets and iodine and unable to be under sedation. And they are threading an epidural tube through my neck up under my skull, and hit a nerve. And so what does Dr. YeahBaby say to his (rather annoying)PA/nurse man IN FRONT (or, you know, BACK) of me?

"Do you know why we don't do this procedure very often? Because people DIE. Do this wrong and she could die."

I am laying there thinking "Um, hey people, remember how I am NOT sedated because I can't be for this?! And I can hear you? And I am scared so bad I might pee my pants if I weren't dehydrated? SO MAYBE YOU COULD NOT KEEP MENTIONING HOW I COULD DIE FROM THIS?!"

I mean, yes, I know I COULD. We have discussed it many times. But it was one of those things where the benefits outweigh the risks. I signed a lot of papers to say so.

But I'd rather not be reminded while laying there scared and half naked on a table, you know?!

BUT his chewing out DID impress the seriousness of the operation on the helper I guess (or else Dr. YeahBaby just didn't let him help anymore, I am not quite sure) because the rest went perfectly. My headache is gone... MAYBE for 9 months again. I have to take it easy a few days, and the ordeal left me pretty drained. But it was a success. And I would recommend Dr. YeahBaby to any who needed a Pain specialist (and, you know, give them his REAL name).

Then came today. The past week, for some reason I have been just HOBBLING around. Like a broke my right foot but couldn't remember when. Hurts to do ANYTHING, and making my toes have pins and needles, too, for some reason. So, I finally got an appointment with a a FOOT doctor. Never had THAT before.

Because I sure did need another STUPID ailment.

So what "fun" thing do I get to have now is a little, but MEAN, tumor on a nerve in the ball of my foot called a neuroma. It is benign, but still causes the same pain.

The Dr. Foot told me that what we could do was to give my foot cortisone injections for awhile to hopefully postpone the time when I would have to have surgery. However, the shots would do BAD things to my blood sugar. I told him that as I had, just yesterday HAD an injection that very likely had done so, that might be a little bit overkill for my diabetes. He agreed. He didn't really want to rush the surgery, either because at present I have full feeling in my feet and that is something I can LOSE with the diabetes... and removing the offending nerve, well, OBVIOUSLY not helping THAT. So, for now he has my foot in a brace. And FlyLady wins... I finally have to wear shoes in the house. And I try this wacky brace a while till I get shots... and eventually, probably surgery... and stupid special shoes.

But right now, there IS no alternative. I hurt so bad this week I can hardly walk, and am needing a a cane or an arm to balance on half the time. I can't give field trips like this, and I can't drive to work on the levels of pain meds I am on.

So there you go. Doctored and doctored from head to toe, quite literally. But with the brace, I can walk (even if I look a little wobbly, still) and my head is considerably improved, so either way my doctors win this round and I have to be happy. I wish I was happier.

Just feeling a little discouraged at being who I am right now, though. Sorry to be such a whiner. I know I am very blessed, I really do. Just... having a tricky time of it at present.

Bubble Gum Pie... YUMMMM!

Today I went to Sandy and joined my Aunt Clare's primary for a bit.
I taught them to sign "Listen to the Still Small Voice
(... Listen Listen. When you have to make a choice He will guide yooooooou... Always.")

I sat with T-La (who was skipping nursery with Caleb and Elijah for the "occasion") till my turn. I also had to share a little mission story (gag.) and scripture (Which I explained the story of the very awesome 1st Kings 19:11-12 in the Bible (Elijah is ALMOST as cool as Paul.)). It went... okay. I know, I teach for my JOB. But even still I still hate being in front of groups like that. I was so nervous the whole time and the stress doesn't stop when I sit down (because that's when the second guessing sets in.) One-on One I am okay. Walking around and saying "oh that is a great looking cow, Maria!" or "Can you tell me why you chose meters, Corbin?" I can do that. But the in front all eyes on me, even KID eyes... I get scared.

So, yeah, even though Clare and T-La said I did great and the kids seemed interested I still didn't feel that great about the whole thing. I was feeling BETTER before the Primary President asked me, AFTER I had taught the kids the song and such, "so, now, do you actually know Sign?"

She meant it innocently enough. I could have got it out of a book AND I was nervous enough I didn't look all that fluent AND I am VERY rusty. But it still was a pretty crushing question, considering.

Anyway, after primary I took off for Megs and Jake's! Megs has been sick and we haven't talked in way too long but then *I* have been sick too and I so didn't care. I needed to see her and just to talk.

We chatted about stuff. We talked about our all too many medical maladies. I cried and told her about Fresno. She showed me a bunch of recorded Divine Comedy Pro Tour skits from the TiVo or DirectTV or whatever fancy beeping TV thingy it is she has that I so don't have ("Saturday's Ninja"... OH. MY. HECK. SO funny.) and watching various Flight of the Conchords songs on You Tube like Albi the Racist Dragon



And Business Time


So RANDOM.

Then we (Me, Meggy, Jake) went over to Les & T-La's house... which is also Aunt Clare & Uncle Lynn's house... and Gabe & Caleb & Elijah... and their 2 dogs, Ratu & Sydney and only a few years ago was also the home of Megan AND Grandma (Yeah, busy house)... for family dinner with them. It was fun and yummy. (T-La cooked and she is QUITE the chef.) We talked and played awhile and then Megs went home not feeling well but I stayed and played with the boys and chatted with T-La. She really is SUPER Mom... to a fault... and those boys, especially Caleb, are PAINFULLY cute. But HYPER!!!!! OH MY GOSH.

I got MAULED today. And pummeled with blankets. And forced to watch Yu-Gi-Oh... with commentary from Gabe.
"[Kipluck], you will LOVE this movie! It is scary because they are in a mind and and it is dark and spooky! Don't be spooked though. It's a cartoon. That guy is named Pegasus."
"Because... he is a flying horse?" I asked, foolishly.
"NO, this isn't HERCULES!"
Silly me.

I *heart* those boys, though. (but no, fyi, I did NOT love Yugioh. Sorry, Gabriel.)

Speaking of Anime, though, Rinny just moved into Old Mill (much to her TERROR since that is right by where *I* lived when I had my Jeep and identity stolen even though that was a totally FREAK thing) and where as her last apartment was her, the 2 Melissas and the one non-Melissa (Ashley), now they have her, Melissa, and 2 ASHLEYS. And the new Ashley is an Anime fanatic and ALSO has 2 (*ahem* not actually allowed in the contract but here's hoping nobody narcs.... like my dad... grrrr...) CHINCHILLAS that I am excited to meet. I love Chinnies. Chinchilla people and Glider people sort of seem to go in the same social circles, you know? Anyway, yeah.

So I cried a little about the Fresno thing today but it was good to talk to Megs about stuff... that and other stuff (and about how I needed to not have it be a Cousin Jas thing because she knew all that stuff)...

and also to write to Gilch, too. Not the same thing, really, we talked about nerdy stuff instead. It was just ALSO good to hear from him. Sometimes you really need a guy friend. A REAL guy friend, not a former boyfriend who you WANT to be a more with but... can't. Just... a friend. Who is a boy. A Substitute BoyKid more than a substitute Fresno.



Sometimes...

it all feels
like homesickness...

even though
I am at home.



Anyway, I have things to keep me busy (not as sick, so back to regular work, plus a bit of a small business scheme I am plotting now... always dealing with C.H.A.O.S. (not that that really makes me feel BETTER but it does keep me BUSY.. BLEH.)... my silly critters... etc. So I think I can start trying to pretend he never existed for awhile. Sigh.

If I had Jacks compass it would be spinning like crazy right now

So, today has been very very fun but I don't know how much my brain can take right now. I just don't know what to think and do and yeah. Right now I am kind of sort of freaking out. NO, he didn't propose or anything, but we talked a LOT tonight about serious things. I am not good at that kind of thing, you know. :O/ More about that later.

So my stupid plane got DELAYED and then so did our luggage (but at least they didn't LOSE it). So I didn't get into my hotel till around 3:30 and didn't go right to sleep either. SO my whole plan of "treating" him to a birthday breakfast (that comes with my room) and I had a candle to stick in a sweet roll or something, well, crap I totally slept in and didn't even make it in time for ANY breakfast.

Oh well. Instead, when Fresno came over we went to Sweet Tomatoes then back to Fresno's to meet the giant dogs. They were, quite possibly BIGGER than the pictures seem to indicate. Biggest dogs I have EVER seen. But they were very sweet, too, so no worries. He showed me all they had done with the bathroom and stuff (he's been working SO hard to spruce up his new little house that he bought). We talked about fish, mapquested the way to the cave, played with the dogs, etc. We looked at photo albums (and some of those pictures OH MY HECK of him (like the one when he used to have an earring... and a big girly one at that... with that and a Poison shirt and a near-mullet) had me laughing so hard I was almost crying.

But then we were talking and that part scares me because like I told him, I don't know what to tell him. The house thing hasn't gone well... and that means he may be in California for a YEAR. And he has been effectively offered the guard job. With choices of various locations (all in Cali). And he wanted to know what to do... where to choose...

My brain wanted to say "Whatever. It's your life. It doesn't much matter to me where you live."
But I know that isn't completely true. Not really. We were talking about it... about him not wanting to make decisions that would keep us apart longer...

He had this map and kept showing me places where he could work and telling me what the places were like. Things like "...it's a little cooler there... it snows like in Utah..." or "...this is close to the coast. You like the beach..."

I know he wanted me to say "yeah, I would move there!"

But I didn't. I couldn't. I couldn't even say anything helpful. I just said stuff like "yeah, I don't know... well, maybe you could just take it temporarily... I don't know..." I just babbled. And it's still true... I don't know.

I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.

I am tired. Not sleepy, just mentally, emotionally, TIRED. I am scared to even play tomorrow because we will probably have to talk about it again. And I should have something to say. I have been praying about it, but, not surprisingly for me, got nothing from that. So I thought maybe writing about it, but no. I feel like swearing.

I really like Fresno, in fact I probably love him. I love being with him... or at least when he is not making my brain hurt like this I do. I think we will end up together. But I also think *I* am not ready for that.

I want my stomach to stop doing flip-flops when he tries to plan his life around what would be good for "us." I am feeling that right now.

I am feeling a little like running away now. But I am in California. And I can't not answer my phone to avoid discussing things because he KNOWS I am here... I have no CAR.

I should sleep.

But I want to write ALL about today! But writing about my FEELINGS today is taking up all my time and energy. Yuck. Put those on hold for a minute.

We went to Pirates 3 (LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!!!!!) which was FANTASTIC... as was when the Transformers preview came on and Fresno SQUEELED like a little girl and it looked like he may pee his pants he was so excited. That was geekily adorable. SIGH.

Then we drove around downtown Fresno (the place, not the nick name... because, umm, dirty...) and he was hilarious in his tour guidedness. Like HISTORIES of the buildings. IT WAS AWESOME. But the coolest was we turned a corner just in time to be RIGHT in front of the end of a baseball game with AWESOME FIREWORKS!!! You could NOT have planned the perfection. We were laughing and cheering so much at the RANDOMNESS of finding fireworks. SO COOL.

Then we went back to my hotel, looked at pictures on my laptop, and he went home. And I got online to write out my day. And have a mental break down. It is late now... 1:30 CA time, but 2:30 at home. I just didn't want to go to bed with out some sort of... plan... decision... SOMETHING. Because I don't know what to say tomorrow and even if he DOESN'T ask me again what to do I feel like I *should* say something.

I am feeling VERY unstable at the moment though.

I just... I don't know. I was feeling pretty good with this whole Live and See plan. But a year... and besides that, HE doesn't want that, not at all... and I really don't want him to see THIS as, like, a lack of interest in HIM or something... and I just don't know. I don't know anything. And I am not getting answers... but I wouldn't really call it a stupor of thought either. ARRRGH.

I am going to bed, I guess. But I haven't a bloody clue what I am going to say think or feel tomorrow and that scares the crap out of me. The End.

City of Sin and Wax Statues

I am writing from the Las Vegas Airport! (I *heart* WiFi, what DID I do before it?) My flight was HILARIOUSLY bad. But not DANGEROUSLY bad, so that's acceptable. They almost bumped me, then lost my seat assignment and almost kicked me off and THEN we left about half hour late because we needed OIL. It was a teeny tiny plane (however, on the bright side there WAS no dreaded "middle seat" between the sight-seeing window seat and the leg-stretching aisle seat.). Luckily for me (and sadly for the nice Japanese lady connecting 10 minutes after they landed on the other side of the airport (and yeah, she missed it)) all that did was cut into the time I am here on my 2 hour lay over. So it's all good. OH, but why it was funny! The stewardess totally said both to put the mask our oxygen mask "after you finish screaming" and that after the whole seat cushions as flotation devices thing "and please, in the event that does happen, feel free to keep the cushions and take them home with you, compliments of Mesa Air." I thought that was pretty awesome.

Also, this airport just cracks me up, because, of course being Las Vegas the first thing you see is slot machines, which I am considering playing if I get too bored. Also there are CREEPY wax statues of Howard Hughes and, even better, what his stewardesses had to wear. And I took pictures because OF COURSE I brought my camera. And of COURSE I brought my laptop. And of course I FORGOT the wire to connect the 2. So STAY TUNED FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE! For now, I think I need to walk a while (I really am scared to death of those blood clots people get from planes, even though LOGICALLY I know I have only been on an hour. Whatever, I hate sitting all cramped like that!). Then maybe sin some. I dunno.

TTYL.

Macho is SCARY!

I am a BAD Girlfriend. Last night I was not feeling good and the phone was in the other room and I FIGURED it was Fresno but thought, Meh... he'll call back. I'm not getting out of bed to answer. But when I listened to his message I felt TERRIBLE!

HIS HOUSE HAD JUST BEEN ROBBED! He came home (to his old house where they are in the process of moving, but he was the only one staying there that night) and thought his roomies had done more packing, because things were missing, but then he saw broken things all over and that the door was kicked wide open! He sounded so scared on the message it made me cry! And you KNOW this wouldn't have happened if the dogs had been there. Even though they are really just sweethearts, you wouldn't go into a house that had 2 monster canines barking in it. He was just SO upset, though!

"They took everything! There was money, spare car and house keys so they can come pack, watches, a ring I was going to give you, a wallet, silverware and it's not fancy silverware, but everything! Some pretty expensive stuff!"

Obviously, hearing that message I was pretty scared, too... though in a different way (RING?! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!). But mostly I just felt bad for poor Fresno! At the end he sounded ready to CRY and just said "I wish I was living in Utah NOW."

So do I. (But not ready for that whole, uhh RING thing, so I am just pretending it was a mood ring or something innocuous like that.)

But it's NOT really "Happy Valley" anyway. I mean, I was living in Provo, Utah when my Jeep was stolen. And my identity... still dealing with that. You are really not safe ANYWHERE. That is just so sad.

I hope he calls back soon! He STAYED there. I would have gathered up all I could and went to the new house IMMEDIATELY! But he has to be all dumb and manly and stay there "in case they come back." Hello, that is why you should LEAVE! IN CASE THEY COME BACK! He needs to hurry and call me. And hurry and move. I just don't like it AT ALL.

Anyway, right now I have to leave because we are going to a St. Patrick's Day dinner and to read BoyKid's new letter! I am sort of wondering now if my padres plan on having a dinner for EVERY time we get a missionary letter. Either way, free food and fun letter to read!

Aaaaand we're back!

I love my baby brother. Who is THAT spiritual? Like reading his letters, it's just... yeah. WOW. The kid is way more in tune than I ever was... or likely will be. And yet he is still a silly teenage kid and you can hear that, too.

But, I admit today my brain is still elsewhere. Fresno better call soon.

I have some sad and shocking news for you. The dinosaurs are DEAD.

I am tired and my feet are KILLING ME but today has been a good day. Why? Because in one day I got to... witness the miracle of birth, spend hours with little kids on a field trip to a dinosaur museum, get flirted with by a high school boy, and finally spent awhile talking about Fresno's mother's surgery and other such stuff. Check it out! I had a whole lifetime today!

First day at TGP and while I can foresee this being a very HARD job, it was cool!

Started off normal enough. HR. Paperwork. W-4 forms. Employee Handbook. Time cards. Then me and the other girl being hired the same time met our boss... Rinny. She took us on an abbreviated tour of Farm Country while explaining a little about the job in general.

But when we were by the turkeys we heard a little girl start CRYING and a huge group gasp over by the goats. So we booked it over there. ONE OF THE GOATS WAS HAVING BABIES! Well, technically, she was having the third of her triplets and the placenta after birth stuff. (which terrified the 3 year old child, apparently) Yeah, pretty gross... but COOL! I didn't get most of the pictures until AFTER work (both mine... AND Mama's) but at least you can see them a couple HOURS old, and how teeny they are! The runty third is about the size of a KITTEN!

By the way, one of the Farm girl said she was naming the runt AFTER Rinny. Which I thought was pretty funny, but I am not sure if the other new girl did.
So, just FYI, if you are thinking you would like to have your kids come to Farm Country when there are cute baby animals (and MAYBE get to have a random lesson on the facts of life... meaning Biology... not the old sitcom with the Boarding School) DUDE, we are, quite literally BURSTING AT THE SEAMS with them. We got calves, we got cute little black lambs born this week, we got baby pygmy goats born TODAY(!!!), we got chicks, and there are going to be baby Nubian goats like anytime this week because Holy Hannah that one is SOOOOO Pregnant.

But anyway, yeah SAW A GOAT GIVE BIRTH AT WORK. How many people can say that?!*

It was sort of hard for ANYTHING to be that interesting after that, mind you, but we went on. With a little more info from Rinny back in her office, we were handed some materials and shepherded over to the Amber Room in the Dinosaur Museum to "shadow" a class (not a field trip, those are mornings, this was more like a day camp preschool thing.) called "In Search of Plant-Eating Dinosaurs" with 3 and 4 year olds. However, when dealing with kids that age "shadowing" is really just being another of the teachers, because oh my heck, kids are work. We colored pictures and made "Stegosaurus Hats" from paper plates. And then we went into the museum to search for plant eaters.

The funniest, though, was this one adorable girl, 3 years old, named Evelyn. First she tells me, "Teacher, know what? I'm crazy about Dinosaurs!"

"You are? That's great, Evelyn! Because that is what we are learning about today!"

"Yeah! And my favorite dinosaur is Brachiosaurus!"

So that was cute enough. But there was only one problem. When we got to the museum Evelyn started to CRY! She looked terrified and SO SAD! When I asked her what was wrong she was just bawling and said "I just wanted to see the Brachiosaurus! I didn't want to see their skelling-tons!"

"Oh sweety, I am sorry. There aren't any dinosaurs alive today."

"I didn't know they would DIE!!!"

Poor kid! She thought when I said TODAY it was like if she just had got here YESTERDAY she's have got to see her favorite all alive and well, but she was too late. Hee hee hee! It was adorably sad. She just walked around the whole time staring at the floor sad that she thought she had JUST missed those living Brachiosauruses, until we got to the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the head teacher told them all to pretend to be plant eating dinosaurs and run past it. Then Evelyn, who had seen Jurassic Park SCREAMS, very serious, "No, you can't run because he'll see you!" and starts to cry again. I could not get her calmed down for forever. She kept saying "No, no! He only sees if you move!" I told her about how it wasn't alive, how the bones were so old they had turned into rocks, but she kept screaming. She was honestly just terrified! I finally had to scoop her up and carry her past the scary "skelling-tons." After a story time under the precious Brachiosaurus we had an egg hunt for dinosaur eggs and served carrot sticks.

It was all fun, but a very long day and I was SO TIRED, but I needed cuttle bone for Tortuga and flakes for the fish and so I stopped at PetSmart in Lehi. I, of course, just planned to run in quickly, because I felt pretty beat, but as usual my gliders were sending me telepathic "buuuuuuy us tooooooys" messages so I had to look in all the usual places (cat toys, hamster/gerbil toys, and bird toys) for suggie-approved toys.

However, as I was looking, a little sales kid with skunk hair (seriously, like dyed black with a white stripe) asked if he could help me, to which I said no thanks I was just looking. But then he just continued to hover a bit and asked me if I had a cat (I was in cat toys at the time). I said no, Sugar Gliders. Then he started to tell me how much he wanted one and asking about them. But the funniest thing, is, and I COULD be wrong, but I could SWEAR he started FLIRTING with me! He had to be just 16, but still, it was funny. Not creepy even. He was a really cool kid. And so, we talked... meaning mostly HE talked, for 2 WHOLE HOURS! Even as I kept walking with my cart. He followed me and kept talking. It was funny. And then when I said, "well, hey it was good to meet you but I really need to go HOME" he SIGHED and said "Oh right. Sorry I kept you."

"Oh, no worries! You didn't keep me."

"Okay. Well, Do you want to... I mean, I guess maybe I will see you later. If you shop here."

I just said "Yeah, see ya!" and went to check out. Had he actually finished what he was about to which SEEMED like almost a date invite I would have told him I was dating Fresno. (Which would have been nicer, I figured, than ALSO bringing up the fact that I was at least 10 years older than him because he really didn't seem to get. (one of the things he talked about was that his mom said he couldn't get any more pets and when I said I lived with roommates he said "you have a roommate? That is SO COOL." Yeah, ummm... awesome?)Yeah, I don't think Fresno needs to be jealous, but it was fun and flattering anyway.

Maybe it is silly, but it doesn't much seem to matter WHO flirts with you, it is ALWAYS fun. Well, as long as they aren't, like, creepy... like trying to kidnap you out of the girl's bathroom in Carl's Junior. UGH.

When I DID get home I spent a good time on the phone with Fresno. He really is pretty perfect. He is funny and he is just LOVING his dogs! And we can talk so EASILY and he doesn't usually stress me out. We talked more about his plans to come out here the end of this month to play, and more about him moving, and his mom;s surgery not going good and to keep her in my prayers. It was just... GOOD. Yeah. I am pretty twitterpated with the boy.

All in all, GOOD DAY. (and yes, I know that this took so long to write that it will no longer BE today when you read it. Deal with it.) And now, I need to SLEEEEEEEP!

*(inside suburban-metropolitan Northern America. I realize that there are some people, like, well, FARMERS, that that is not that weird for. But for me, well, I was pretty floored.)

On the Ball... with a Martian Moose watching your every move

This weekend has been, at least, more social than usual. YAY! It is good to have friends and actually SEE them on occasion.

Thursday, Coats drove up because a lady in the grocery store that she did not know set her up with her nephew for a date in Provo. So before her date she came to my house to talk and hang out. That was fun because we just have not talked in some time. She then was going to stand the boy up because she was in an exceptionally pissy mood. Like I don't even KNOW the boy and I felt bad for him. I THINK I convinced her to at least not dog the poor guy, but I don't know. I haven't heard the post-date report, but she was already mad that they were meeting at Red Robin as she doesn't like hamburgers. Hee hee! She is so weird. But FUNNY.

Friday was the official "Damn Good Taco Night" at CC and Cupcake's house, "The Lodge." It was fun (well, most of it)! On the ride up there me and Stewie talked, mostly about Fresno and my relationshipaphobia, (and her kiddlet making a "robot" dog out of a radio) etc. Because that woman is WISE! Then we picked up Stef and continued to "The Lodge" which is basically a townhouse that has a rock path through beige carpet (sand?) and a lower level of greenish blueish carpet (a pond?) with a VERY SCARY moose painted on the wall with big alien eyes! CREEEEPY! (and the bathroom wallpaper is also HILARIOUSLY pornerific! hee hee!) However, hey, CC and Cupcake live there so it is cool by association. Hee hee hee!

A lot of people were there that I did not know, and to be honest, I felt very intimidated. Sometimes I make myself mad. I know, in my heart, I am an outgoing person. I am gabby and loud with my friends. But with strangers I sometimes want to shrink into the background until I disappear. The people weren't really all STRANGER-strangers... a few looked familiar and we got to see CD, of Cupcake's Blog (VERY cute, chica! Way to go!). And other people had met each other, it's just been awhile since I have been able to get out, so I felt a little lost.

When I finally WAS talking I was telling about Parker calling me to get the Birds and the Bees talk, but with the sex = basketball analogy the boys there just took that and ran with it, and basically turned all sports dirty, which was funny, but also made a few people uncomfortable and left. I didn't mean to do that.

Anyway, I was ready to go home when Stef and Stewbert were. It was a good party. I just had a bit too much on my mind to have a lot of fun. I was missing BoyKid... and Fresno... and thinking a lot about Megs... and wondering if I am ever going to get a job so that I can feel self-sufficient EVER in my life, etc. I really liked the brownies and ate 3 of them which was not wise, but I sort of didn't care because they were yummy and I was not feeling that stellar inside my own head.

Saturday, too, was a bit of a party! I went up to Salt Lake to hang out with Megs and St. Jake since she is home from the hospital and I still hadn't given her her Christmas present (which, btw, I actually have one for CC, but forgot it. hee hee hee. And yes, it is MARCH.). Her and St. Jakey collect those official Disney pins (they are both OBSESSED with all things Disney) and I had bought a Stitch surfing one in Hawai'i for her when I was there! She also had a Christmas present for me... a really cute journaly notebook with Wonder Woman decoupaged on it! SWEET! Anyway, St. Jakey made us breakfast for dinner... eggs, bacon, orange juice, the whole shebang! Then we 3 just hung out watching random interior design shows on HGtv. It was fun. I haven't spent near enough time with Megs and St. Jake. I so love them. SIGH!

Which brings us to today. I went to church, my own, slightly dysfunctional, ward even. Just Sacrament though, I could not mentally/emotionally handle more today to tell you the truth. I am glad I went, but only because I SHOULD go. Right now I just need to take what I can get from this ward, even if all it is is obedience because I don't really LIKE it here. I DO very much like the new-ish Bishop. Mostly because I know he is a man of God and REALLY appreciate the blessing he gave me prior to the scary nerve block thing with Dr. YeahBaby. So I go because I should and keep hoping my feelings about the other people in my ward change, especially now that The Roomie is 31 and has taken that fact as the chance to run from our ward, even if it is to an "older singles" ward. So I sit alone. But... yeah. Right now I am just patting myself on the back for showing up at all.

The Bishopric's wives sat right behind me today and were quizzing me on how I was doing during the opening song. It was kind of annoying, but hey, at least they missed me. Sigh. Anyway, church was good. The Relief Society president spoke about "raising the bar" not just for missionaries, but ourselves as members of the church. And she kept saying that chef's thing "Bam! Kick it up a notch!" which was funny in church. But yeah, it was good, just... frustrating.

However, during the sacrament I was thinking about Fresno (yes, bad me. I know we are supposed to be thinking about Jesus, but I was mostly thinking of the boy *blush*) and RIGHT THEN he called my phone! I HADN'T turned it off, but I HAD at least put it on vibrate. But I quickly turned it off right then. Still I thought it was pretty eerie for him to call WHILE I was just thinking of him.

Granted, later I decided it really WASN'T that spooky considering I tend to be thinking about Fresno the MAJORITY of my time and so it is only statistics that he would call during that great expanse of time. But STILL.

Anyway, that was today... and Saturday... and Friday... and Thursday.

I am going to post this and maybe go home. (Right now I am at the Padres' because they got a letter from Anziano BoyKid and I wanted to read it! Plus, I was driving home from church and saw some people making a MOVIE! So I was really curious and drove around the neighborhood they were in trying to figure out what they were doing. Yes, following their crew like a dork. Anyway, some how in my paparazziness I ended up by the Padres' house and wanted to read BoyKid's first letter home. TA DA!) TTYL, Journal Friends!

(btw, sometimes I forget that people read this. In fact, the other night Stewie mentioned someone reading my blog besides her, CC, Cupcake, Bobbie, Granola, Mali, etc. (she didn't mention those people, I am just saying she said somebody else) and it really surprised me. I guess I forget some people read with out responding. It is fine either way, I just didn't THINK about other people reading it besides my direct friends. I guess mostly because I think WHY? If I had an especially interesting life, I would understand. It is just funny that anyone but people who are my friends (and thus required to think I am funny) who give 2 pins about my life. Odd. Anyway, friends and strangers alike, have a good night.)

Adrift in the Empty Sea

Even though I love my little brother and think he is hilarious, I didn't know it would be so hard. It SHOULDN'T have been. They tell you to say goodbye fast. We didn't. That was dumb dumb DUMB. We were the LAST FAMILY out of the room and we were all crying really hard. I was holding it together till BoyKid started crying. Because he didn't look sad and excited. He looked MISERABLE. He was bawling. And I couldn't stop after that. I had a fight with Padre at lunch before the MTC, and cried at THAT too. The Megan thing... and my own medication struggles has me on hair trigger anyway... and then Padre... and then BoyKid...

it was a bad day to be leaving him. Way too emotional. And he really did look AWFUL. (AFTER the pics. DURING pictures, he was, well, HIM. The crying came a half hour or so later.) I want to go bring him home right now. Actually, that's not quite true.

I feel more like putting on my old name tag and sneaking in with him. (That's Fresno's fault. I have been thinking of infiltrating the MTC ever since he confessed that 2 of his little best friends stole tags from older brothers and snuck in to hang out for a day with him when HE was in the MTC. BAD!)

Before the MTC we went to Padre's country club for lunch and the little boy apparently made a last ditch effort to be dumb before they try to smarten him up. He is SUCH a BOY.


Then we went to Provo to the legendary Missionary Training Center and we were directed as to where to drag his bags.


Then we went back to the front and IN appropriate doors.

(Rinny's says Friends and Family of Missionaries.)


(BoyKid's says New Missionaries... and he looks like he is impersonating a rodent of some sort.)

Then we went in, and he got his name tag (complete with Dork Dot, of course!) and the lady told him to have his mom put it on.


And then camera time was over. We went into the assembly room. There were prayers, video clips, and before it was even really time to go we were blubbering, including BoyKid which just ripped my heart out!

I know he will adjust... and LOVE it. And what's more important, he will do God's work. But right this minute, I just... want to talk to him. I want to tell him stuff and have him confide in me and hang out and just to BE here. I miss him so much right now I don't think him being HOME would be enough. I would want BoyKid to move in and sleep on the couch.

Other than that today, I went to a job interview (with a staffing service to do customer service (Meh.)... not TGP like I want, but I need SOMETHING.), swam, cried more... Oh! But Coats called and she is coming up this way and so we are going to hang out tomorrow! So that should be good. But in general, yeah... I miss my baby brother. *sniffle*

Shoelaces, the Gift of Tongues, and Dogs the Size of Horses

Where to start? This week... wow.

For one thing I have had a really sick feeling for the past few weeks bout Megan. I felt like she was suicidal. And I felt like she was hospitalized. I think I even SAID so. To Mali? Or CC? Did I, Mali? Steph? Say she was hospitalized? Because I don't know why I said it. At all. I didn't know she was committed, until today when she finally called me back and said she had finally been released. But I felt it. Somehow, I knew she was in the hospital before she said anything. Because she is my Megan, I guess. If that makes sense. Anyway, she is home now, but still under close watch... with lots of doctor's appointments. That is good.


One thing that made me giggle (and cry, simultaneously) was when she was telling me about getting released "...and they told me, oh and you have this appointment today and that one tomorrow..."

"Hey, that's cool. Being in the hospital is like having a secretary!"

"Yeah, a secretary that steals your shoelaces."

"WHAT?!"

"They unthreaded my shoes... because they do that dangerous job of holding shoes to my feet!"

"Shoelaces? Dang, chica! You suicidal people are creative!"

"Heck yes we are!" she laughed.

I remember the first time she was in there. They wouldn't let her have magazines until they pulled the staples out. But that would take some serious talent to hang yourself with shoelaces, that's what I have to think anyway.

Anyway, we talked a long time. It was good. I have missed her terribly. She is my Megan... She is my best friend, my cousin... but she is also... the person I would die for... my spirit's twin... I don't know. She is my MEGAN. And I hurt very deeply when she does. I try to not let it worsen my OWN Depression and such, but it is hard. I just have to focus on the good stuff... that she is okay enough to be out... that she is getting help she needs... that her wonderful hubby St. Jakey is there for her. But... yeah. HARD.

But today was also an important day in our family for the BoyKid! Today we all went with him the the church to be with him as he was set apart as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and given a very beautiful blessing that he would be protected, that our family would be blessed, that he would learn Italian by the Gift of Tongues.

BoyKid cried a LOT. I think he is getting nervous. But he will do good. He really will. Tomorrow we take him to the Missionary Training Center and say goodbye for 2 years. I am going to miss him... a LOT. We all will. That kid is hilarious. Italy doesn't know how lucky it is.

After the setting apart, blessing, and firming up tomorrow's plan, Fresno called and cheered me up quite a bit. He was exhausted though. After work he was shampooing carpets all day at the new house (the one in Cali... he plans to get one in UTAH, too... but in August or so)! He closed on it just a few days ago and got the keys the same day he got a call from his brother that THEY were moving... to somewhere with no fence and yard. Why does that matter? Well, because it meant that a few days ago I got a phone call so excited I thought the boy had won the lottery.

"Remember how I have wanted a dog so much?! Especially after playing with [The Roomie]'s when I came last time?" Remember that?!"

"Yes..."

"And remember how I was so happy that the house had a good yard with a fence?!"

"Yes! Did you get a DOG?!"

"No! I got 2 dogs! My brother is giving me his 2 IRISH WOLFHOUNDS!!!! And they're free! And I love them and they are mine and they are big..."

"Umm... [Fresno], they are HUGE. Irish Wolfhounds are GIANT."

"I KNOW! Isn't that great?!"

Fresno is now the proud papa of 2 of the tallest dog breed in the world - a sister and brother named Demi and Darby. He gets to pick them up tomorrow and he is absolutely FLYING he is so hyper. IT IS SO CUTE. Irish Wolfhounds are far from my favorite breed... but I think I can love them. HE sure does. Over the moon, that boy. Adorable. Well, and he is such a Celticphile. Obsessed with ALL things Irish. I think he is slightly crazy... 2... TWO of those puppies?! Oh and they are NOT puppies. He says they'll be 4 years old May 6th. But yeah 2 monsters bred to hunt wolves (but these ones better not hunt anything other than squeaky toys or I would have a MAJOR problem) and he is talking about brushing them everyday, and buying them cute things (seriously. He can be SUCH a girl!) and teaching them the same tricks Trinket and Shasta know. SIGH.

But his excitement is contagious, and besides... well, I can not resist ANY furry face! He promised to take pictures for me. For now I am just looking at Irish Wolfhound websites all the time. Hee hee hee hee!

Yesterday, when we were swimming, my mom and I were talking about him. At the end of it she asked, "but, seriously, don't you think you will marry him? Eventually?" I admitted I did. EVENTUALLY. And my hesitation has nothing to do with what he is (ie: near PERFECT for me) and everything to do with me and what I fear about myself.

Anyway, also tonight Fresno was teasing me, like usual. We were talking about BoyKid going.

"So, did he ask you if you were going to be married while he was gone?"

"No, he did NOT ask that."

"My brother got married while I was on my mission. They didn't even tell me. Rude, huh?"

"Well, I think that is HORRIBLE! Not to even tell you? Your brother was a jerk."

"They said they sent an announcement. But they lied... or it got lost. I guess that's possible."

"Well, anyway. That is dumb. Not even to tell you."

"So do you think they should have waited for me?"

"Hmm... I don't know. Maybe. You don't really LIKE your brother, so probably not. But maybe if you liked your brother..."

"You really like your's, huh."

"Yeah."

"But I think I understood them not waiting. And wasn't mad or felt bad."

"Umm... yes you DID. You said they were rude!"

"Oh yeah. But... umm... maybe if my new in-law was COOL then I would not have wanted them to wait for me. As long as they TOLD me. Like maybe with a funny package."

"Hmmm... maybe. We'll see."

Then I changed the topic and we talked about Conference time when he is coming next and how we missed each other and other such patheticity. And more about the dogs and the houses and his disabled cousin that he takes care of suddenly getting to spend time with his dad who hasn't seen him in 12 years! It was good to talk. I miss him.

I seem to be MISSING a lot of people lately. But, as the Stake President said (well, to the same effect anyway), how great is it to have so many people in our lives that are worth being missed?

I Don't Want a Wii... I can't even Handle a We!

Fresno is the sweetest *gulp*BOYFRIEND*gulp* in the whole world, but I still get awful weirded out by his commitment. Commitment is so scary! And then there are the We statements. He says them so NATURALLY. Like he doesn't even THINK about them! When I say We it is only after tumbling it around in my head for forever and even then I usually end up whispering it pathetically. But he is throwing around Wes like they're going out of style!

Like, while looking at house. "...We could get that one..." and my brain is screaming NO! No, that is YOUR house! THIS is MY house! That one creeped me out.

However, I AM getting more okay with it. Like, rather than my brain screaming it is just GIGGLING and thinking WE? What the?! when I was talking about BoyKid's mission and me writing him and Fresno busts out smoothly with this "...yeah, and we will write him once a week, and sometimes we can make him packages!"

However, even though I am still neurotic as hell about this whole Boy thing, I really like him. I *think* I love him. And I think that EVENTUALLY, maybe, I might just end up married to Fresno. But before I let that happen there are many MANY things about myself I need to fix. And it will be awhile, despite what he seems to think. But, yeah, it is still probably going to happen if I can keep myself together anyway.

Oh, and randomly, he is so GOOD. He had a good friend die some time ago, and he did his work in the temple. Well, now he is doing his friend's parents' work and he asked if, so that it was more special to him, I would do the Mom's work, because then he could baptize "her" and we could plan a big temple day when he comes for General Conference. He asked really nice and all spiritual-ish, but half of me is still sort of dreading it because, well, for one thing being baptized is not exactly the most FLATTERING of things to be.

ALSO, I sort of am anti-temple DATE. My reasoning is that in the Temple you might be wondering "Hmmm... should I marry this person someday?" and you might feel all kinds of happy templey goodness and think "YES! I should!" when maybe all you are really being told is "Good job! Yay! Happy templey goodness for serving the Lord and your fellowman!!!"

And yet, I still said "Ummm, yeah, okay?" because he just ASKED so... HIM. SIGH. And that means being wet in a white jumpsuit... and probably getting all weirded out and nervous that the proxy *sealing* will seem too much like a dress rehearsal or something. Yeah. ANYWAY, like I told him (because of the way he was asking) I am honored to stand in for someone else important to him. Just... yeah... I am me.

And now it's time for Silly Songs with Larry, the part of the blog where Larry comes out and sings a silly song... or, umm, you know.... Friday's Faves. Without Larry.

Friday's Fave 5s

In the true spirit of girliness, Five Faves about Fresno

1. His super bluey-blue eyes. They are GORGEOUS.

2. He is HONEST in his compliments. He doesn't pretend I am a skinny model, but he tells me I am beautiful and says why he thinks so. He supports me trying to be healthier, but doesn't really care if I stay the same size in the process. Because he is realistic in his compliments, it makes him one of the few people I actually TRUST compliments from.

3. When he gets really excited like a little kid! Like when the Roomie made the dogs do tricks for us, he was, like cheering and clapping! It was HILARIOUS! Especially when we are being really silly and talking like dolphins or making up things for the Wonder Twins to turn into and he starts GIGGLING. It is the funniest thing to me. He sounds about 5 years old when he does that. I love it.

4. His dedication to the Gospel! He really is an AMAZING holder of the holy Priesthood, and a really good EXAMPLE to me. How cool is THAT?!

5. The way he TRIES (sometimes too hard) to relate to everyone about something. No matter how different they are from him he will find SOMETHING in common to discuss with them. He is the king of "BRT" and I love it because of WHY he does it. He doesn't do it to BE salesy, he just wants everyone to feel interesting and just tries to be nice and relate to people SOMEHOW, even if he doesn't like them.